Canine Works Perth WA

08/05/2024

Fluffy and fabulous ❤️

02/05/2024

Thank you to my amazing friend Erin and for spoiling the boys with a generous bag of her delicious homemade dog treats! 🐾💕 The boys devoured their wholesome goodies 💕 Thank you for always thinking of us Erin xx 🐶🐾

”

15/10/2023

I cut hundreds of dog nails every week and a great nail clipper is one of the most important tools in my arsenal of products. Until about a year ago, the Millers Forge nail clippers (the small one with the red handle) were my clipper of choice. But I was having quality control issues with them which is why I no longer recommend them. The quality has deteriorated to such an extent that the last 4 Miller Forge clippers I bought were blunt out of the packet. Your dog nail clippers should cut a nail like a knife through butter.

For the last 5 months, I have used the igroomhub nail clippers in my salon and have been most impressed! They not only look good with their solid timber handles but also cut exceptionally well; so well (and quiet) that some dogs don’t even know when their nails were being cut. The clippers are comfortable and the springs also make them easy to use without tiring my hands.

Some people with large dogs may consider them small but they are the perfect size for any sized dog. I have used them on toy poodles with tiny nails and also wolfhounds with big thick nails. You don’t need giant-sized clippers for giant dogs. It is far better and easier to cut nails in small chunks.

My only gripe is that sometimes the screws on the handle loosen, but that is an easy and quick fix with a screwdriver. These clippers can also be sharpened (I recommend professional sharpening)

04/10/2023

Where did the time go? I still remember him as a baby 🐾 and now, he’s 11!

SH**UN, Ch Fantango Westside Story, still in winning form.
At the recent 50th anniversary Golden Retriever Champ show he was awarded 🏆BEST VETERAN IN SHOW 🏆.
✨BEST SIRE AND PROGENY ✨

18/09/2023

We had a fun day at the annual Golden Retriever Specialty last Saturday. Super proud of both my boys 😃❤️🥰

08/05/2023

Not quite the cover of Vogue 🤣 but super proud and excited to be named Groomer of the month.

23/02/2023

Our restaurant manners still a work in progress 🙈 .

17/02/2023

🧸 Teddy ❤️ A real life baby bear x

01/02/2023

Welcome Lilou!
You were a superstar for your first groom!
🤩

25/01/2023

Cuteness comes naturally to
🤍

17/01/2023

Lana 😍 Cute as a button or head-turning glamourpuss? 🖤

30/03/2022

Rapha won a pretty ribbon last weekend ❤️
🌟BEST OF BREED🌟
🎉🥳🌟 BEST INTERMEDIATE GUNDOG 🌟🥳🎉
Thornywait Raphael (IMP UK)
Pictured at 2 years 3 months ❤️

17/03/2022

My amazing friend Sacha from The Balanced Canine Sydney has organised a raffle to help the dogs of Ukraine. Please consider donating to this wonderful cause. Plus check out all the amazing prizes!

*** We made our target and made over $15,000!!!!*** We will now collate all the raffle ticket names ready for the digital draw which we believe will be on Monday. Check our page for updates

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$𝟭 𝗥𝗔𝗙𝗙𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗖𝗞𝗘𝗧𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗨𝗞𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗔𝗡 𝗗𝗢𝗚𝗦

💔 Times are only going to get tougher in Ukraine and right now there are dog families that are struggling to feed their dogs.

If you're anything like me, you want to help but just don't know how - we hope this is an option you'd love to get behind and share with your family and friends.

🚍 We are in direct contact with a group of absolute angels who are taking van loads of dog food to Ukraine and our goal is to fill 2 van loads, can you help us?!

🔖 𝗘𝗮𝗰𝗵 $𝟭 𝗔𝗨𝗗 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝘆 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝟭 𝗿𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁.
Raffle winners can only be in Australia but if you are not in Australia and still want to purchase tickets to donate (not tax-deductible), you are more than welcome.

😍 Australian Dog Loving Businesses have come to the party to offer products and services as prizes.

There is 1 main big prize, just like winning the dog lotto and then there are 10 smaller prizes.

Below is a list of products that you can win!!! Photos can be found in the comments section where available.

🐾 𝗠𝘆 𝗗𝗼𝗴𝗴𝗶𝗲 𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲𝘀:
My Doggie W**d, My Doggie Gut Dust, My Doggie Bone Broth, My Doggie Mushroom Bone Broth, My Doggie Support, My Doggie Prevent & Repair, My Doggie Bee Chunder, My Doggie Settle Gretel, My Doggie Chill Out Dude & My Doggie King Island Kelp

🐾 𝗔𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗹 𝗥𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗱
An amazing tub of 720 capsules!!!! RRP $544.50

🐾 𝗥𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀
Bespoke paracord collar (+ biothane leash) RRP $325

🐾 𝗣𝗮𝘄𝘇 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲
A snuffle mat in any size pl, snufflepillar, snuffle egg, and marrow chews.

🐾 𝗘𝘃𝗮-𝗟𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗮 𝗕𝗮𝗮𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 - 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗼𝗿
Hamper with dog shampoo and a personalised keyring with a "love dogs" charm.

🐾 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗖𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀
3 of their awesome supplements: Pure Colostrum, Gut Protect & Organic Super Greens.

🐾 𝗦𝗵𝘆 𝗧𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗿
Soothe + Clean Dental, Soothe + Skin Wash, Soothe + Calm Day & Soothe + Calm Night.

🐾 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 & 𝗝𝗮𝗰𝗾
Whippet head & Neck Warmer! (Good for non-Pencil heads too!).

🐾 𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗲
Online one-on-one training session.

🐾 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀
A dog leash.

🐾 𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗢𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲
Pet Dental Kit

🐾 𝗣𝘂𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼
Adopt t-shirt and tote bag.

🐾 𝗥𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗯𝗼𝘄 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗧𝘂𝗴𝘀
2 Fluffy tug toys.

🐾 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗙𝘂𝗻 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
12 months membership to the Focus on Fun PATHWAY.
This is an online course with support. Value $470.00.

🐾 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱
1x each flavour in their Treats range (5 products)
1x each flavour in their 500g Meals (3 products)

🐾 𝗦𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗮 𝗚𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴
Voucher for a custom pet tag.

🐾 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗞𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗮𝘄𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗿𝘆
Organic shampoo bar pack

🐾𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗕𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵 - 𝗧𝗮𝘀𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗮 & 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻
Pack of broth.

🐾 𝗕𝘂𝗴𝘀𝘆'𝘀 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝗽
1 pack of each flavour of 300g air-dried food (3 packs)

🐾 𝗕𝗶𝗴 𝗗𝗼𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀
2 x 3kg boxes of raw food, 4 bags of freeze-dried Little Bites, 1 bottle of their probiotic

🐾 𝗣𝗼𝗼𝗰𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀
Freshly baked treats and cakes

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🤩 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝟭𝟬 𝘅 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗲𝘀:

1 x bottle of 60's Antinol
1 x 200g bag of My Doggie W**d (Dental health supplement)

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***Important notes: Prizes will be sent directly from the donator of the prize, we will not have any input or control.

Your contact details will be passed onto the companies.

A random word/number generator will be used to draw the winners after the last day of raffle sales Thursday 31.03.22. It may take us some days to finish the data entry of all the raffle tickets.

PayPal fees will be deducted from the grand total before it is transferred.

23/01/2022

☀️TO SHAVE OR NOT TO SHAVE?☀️

Every summer on many Facebook groups there is heated debate about shaving double coated breeds; and people who want to shave their dogs are made to feel like that they will be committing abuse.

It is widely believed that the double coat insulates the dog from cold in winter and heat in summer.

This is the best article I have come across that examines this debate from both sides in a scientific manner:
https://theeducatedgroomer.com/2018/06/25/shaving-double-coated-breeds/
These are some of the questions addressed:
👉Will they die from heatstroke if we clip them as we mess up their thermoregulation?
👉Will they get burnt by the sun and get skin cancer?
👉And will the coat be destroyed and never grow back again?

💥One of the main points I took away from this article is that “the hair is there as insulation – to prevent heat from LEAVING the body. Air is trapped in between the hairs and that insulates as it prevents heat from leaving the body and cold air from reaching the skin. So the more hair – the less chance of heat leaving the body surface……unless it’s windy or the dog is moving around and the coat is well-kept – as the heat then can escape when the hair is moving. But it’s only a certain amount of heat that can escape and the longer/thicker the coat is, the less effect we have from the hair movement. ⭐️⭐️⭐️ That is why it is important to keep a long-haired dog well-brushed and to remove excess undercoat if we are going to keep it longhaired.”

👉A good deshed treatment that removes excess undercoat will thus, help keep your dog comfortable in the heat.

👉 Before making a decision on shaving, educate yourself, speak to your groomer and make that decision based on facts, not heresay.

21/01/2022

“A successful team is a group of many hands and one mind.” Bill Bethel
✊
When groomers get together on their day off to groom each other’s dogs ❤️

Thanks for a fun day Big Pawz Grooming and Conarhu Golden Retrievers

24/12/2021

Sending lots of love this holiday season from our bubble to yours 😄❤🍾
❤
Thank you to all my clients for entrusting me with your beautiful dogs and helping Canine Works grow into a success. Much love to you all xx
🖤
May you always have lots of love to share,
Lots of good health to spare,
And lots of good friends who care.
-Eddie Jaku

26/10/2021

At Canine Muscleworks we offer a variety of treatment options and each option has different benefits.

A typical session will include a gait and posture analysis and then a customised treatment plan which will include a combination of therapies to relieve pain and restore balance.

25/10/2021

Every dog that comes through our door is given the same love and attention we give to our own dogs.

🖤Knowledgeable in the conformation of many breeds, we offer a high standard of grooming for all dog breeds and will groom your dog according to the breed standard.

🖤We use only premium grooming products, the same products we use on our own champion show dogs.

24/10/2021

Today we officially switch to our new name ⭐️ CANINE WORKS ⭐️ (from our old name Canine Muscleworks).

Shortening our name reflects our 2 services - Muscleworks 💪 and Groomworks 🛁 - both arms form Canine Works.

Everything else remains the same - same people, same products, same great service - just a new name ☺️

Check out our exciting new website and tell us what you think 🐾 www.canineworks.com.au

24/10/2021

24/10/2021

04/10/2021

9 year old Sh**un smashing his way to 🏆⭐️BEST VETERAN IN SHOW 🏆 ⭐️ at the 2021 Perth Royal Show 😍

29/09/2021

Sh**un on his way to winning 2x Best Veteran Gundog at 2021 Perth Royal.
🐾 Still has it at 9 😍 I have forgotten how much I love showing this boy ❤️
Sh**un is a proud ambassador ✊

27/09/2021

Long day at Super proud of Sh**un winning Best Gundog Veteran at both shows 🤩

15/09/2021

Tootsie is almost 20 years old! She’s the oldest dog I’ve ever met ❤️

16/07/2021

For those lucky enough to have a senior dog, this is an excellent post on changes to watch out for.

👉 For supplements I give my own dogs Antinol Rapid and recommend it as a supplement for all dogs from puppies to seniors.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴...𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂! .

Over the past few months, I've had an above average number of senior dog owners contact me in the hope that I can work with their dog who has been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. Many of them are desperate to do anything they possibly can to improve their senior dog's quality of life. Their commitment to their dogs reaffirms my belief in the inherent goodness of humans, but I feel so bad because many of them are at a loss in terms of next steps...so hopefully this helps.

𝐌𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬. A dog who can move comfortably is able to participate in family life, access various areas of the house and back yard, defecate independently, walk, and play. But what can be done to establish and maintain mobility?

𝟏. 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧
I'm a huge advocate of recognizing and addressing mobility issues early, but too often early signs of discomfort are dismissed simply because dogs communicate and provide feedback differently than humans do. Typical signs of pain I ask my clients to watch for include:

a) 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐭. You may notice that your dog has slowed down, or is limping or bunny hopping.

b) 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐲 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. For example, they may be slow to get up from laying down, or hesitant to sit.

c) 𝐀𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. This is one of the biggest ways that dogs communicate with us, but it's often dismissed as stubbornness. You may find your dog avoiding specific parts of your house, such as the stairs or slippery floors. You may find that they start to avoid jumping on furniture or into the car, or hide when it's time to go for a walk. They may choose not to participate in activities like playing fetch or going for walks. They may avoid the family in general, and hide in quiet rooms.

d) 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. You may notice your dog sleeping more, and possibly either ignoring or growling at family members (canine and human). Your dog may lick their joints obsessively, or start trembling or shaking unexpectedly. They may vocalize unexpectedly, for example, when changing position.

e) 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬. You may notice changes in your dog's stance, or a change in muscle mass. Unfortunately when we see a dog every day, it can be really difficult to notice these changes. It can be helpful to look at pictures from the past to compare, or ask a friend/dog trainer/groomer etc. if they have noticed any changes.

f) 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬. You may notice your dog struggling to defecate or urinate, especially with squatting or leg lifting. Your dog may start having accidents in the house, or need to go to the washroom more frequently.

g) 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐨𝐠𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝. This is really important to watch, especially if the behaviour change results in aggressive behaviour toward the senior dog.

h) 𝐈𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞’𝐬 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞? This is by no means an exhaustive list, but it's a starting point. If your gut is telling you there's an issue - listen and make the vet appointment. Recognize and react early.

𝟐. 𝐕𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
Your veterinarian can be a fantastic source of information when it comes to “next steps.” I strongly suggest walking in with a list of talking points in hand, and doing your research in advance. This will ensure all your concerns are addressed, but will also ensure you are being respectful of the vet’s time.

Subjects to discuss include:

a) 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. There are foods specifically designed to improve mobility, such as Hills J/D. Some vets’ offices also have qualified nutritionists on site who can provide appropriate advice.

b) 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬: There are a lot of supplements on the market that cost a lot of money, but have absolutely no proven impact on osteoarthritis. Two interesting supplements that I’m currently following the science on (studies posted below, but more are available through Google Scholar) are Green Lipped Mussel (available in supplements like YuMOVE), which improve the mobility of osteoarthric dogs, and Fortetropin (available in supplements like Myos Canine Muscle Formula), which can reduce muscle atrophy. Your vet is more likely to be up to date on the current science than I am, and will likely have other suggestions which would be appropriate for your dog.

c) 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Before attending the appointment with your vet, I suggest doing some research on available medication for canine osteoarthritis. There are quite a few options available, and if one doesn’t work for your dog, talk to your vet about trying an alternative approach. Knowledge is power, and if you can walk into your vet’s office with a basic understanding of potential medications, their likely benefits, and potential side effects, it’s easier to have a fruitful discussion regarding next steps.

d) 𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬: Depending on your location and the amenities available to you, you may also want to discuss resources such as laser therapy, hydrotherapy, acupuncture, a referral to a CCRP/CCRT, or any other resource available to you. Again, I suggest doing your research in advance on Google Scholar to find reliable information about the efficacy of various treatment options so that your conversation with your vet is as productive as possible.

𝟑. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬
Complementary care integrates with conventional medicine, but it’s important to note that it does not replace conventional medicine. Examples of complementary care services that may be helpful for a dog with osteoarthritis include massage, conditioning, chiropractic care, and hydrotherapy.

As a complementary care provider focused on conditioning and massage, I can tell you that massage can reduce stiffness and compensatory stress while improving range of motion, which positively impacts mobility. Conditioning can improve proprioception, balance, and flexibility, and reduce muscle atrophy, thereby improving functional wellness. The really nice thing about an effective conditioning plan is that it can build muscle more effectively and comfortably than a traditional walk - the dogs truly enjoy it. When pursuing complementary care modalities, it’s important to ensure that the people who are working with your dog have the appropriate qualifications and experience. Depending on your location and other circumstances, a veterinary referral may be necessary.

4. 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 - and not just with words - consider photos and videos as well. Watch for changes in your dog’s mobility - what makes it worse? What makes it better? This documentation will provide a path forward and can be a very helpful resource when talking to your vet. It may take multiple vet appointments to find a combination of medication/food/supplements/complementary care/treatment that works for your dog - and that’s okay. You and your vet are collaborators, and the more information you can provide to your vet, the better they can adjust their approach to meet your dog’s needs.

𝟓. 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
Your senior dog likely spends the vast majority of their time in the house or yard, and there is SO MUCH that can be done to make their lives more comfortable.

a) If you have laminate flooring, hardwood, tiles, vinyl, or any other type of slippery flooring, consider laying down rugs or yoga mats. Even if you think your senior dog is fine on the slippery surfaces, try laying down some rugs - you may be shocked at how much your dog gravitates to the textured surface.

b) Consider trying an elevated food and water bowls. As each of my dogs has aged, I’ve found that they appreciate an elevated food bowl. When a dog’s head is lowered, the weight shifts to their front assembly (which already bears approximately 60% of their weight). If any of the joints in the front assembly are sore, lowering the head to eat can increase that discomfort.

c) Changes in elevation can be particularly challenging for a dog with osteoarthritis. Whether it’s the steps to go from the deck to the lawn, the stairs to go from the rec room to the kitchen, or the leap required to move from the floor to the couch, bed or vehicle, these changes in elevation can provide painful challenges to dogs with osteoarthritis. Consider the mental impact this can have on a dog as well, if the dog can’t accompany family members as they move to different areas of the household, or struggle to sit beside you on the couch as you watch TV. If you have a small dog, you can often carry them (just make sure they don’t fall or jump off furniture), but for larger dogs more innovation is required. Some of my clients have built long ramps with a gradual slope, others have changed their stairs to decrease the rise and increase the run. Others have changed where they let their dog out, bringing them out through a door that leads directly to the ground. I’ve had clients think outside the box, and simply change how they use their living space, using the living room on the main floor as a rec room so their dog doesn’t feel left out when the family is watching a movie or playing a video game. Other clients have changed their bedroom to the main floor for the same reason. Many clients have incorporated pieces of furniture that allow for easier transitions between the floor and beds or couches, such as ottomans with varied heights. I don’t generally recommend the commercially designed pet stairs for any dogs except for the smallest, due to the steep slope and limited depth of the runner. However, there are talented builders on Etsy and in towns everywhere who have the ability to build furniture that will work well for your pets.

d) A comfortable bed is also important for a dog with osteoarthritis. Many prefer bolstered, supportive beds that area easy to get onto and off of, but ultimately listen to your dog. If they like firm, bolstered beds - great. If they like softer, flat beds, also great!

𝟔. 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
It’s important to maintain you dog’s nails and coat in their senior years. Long nails can further impact their stance and gait, and matted hair can pull on skin that may already be extremely sensitive. Regular dental care will ensure they can continue to eat comfortably, which is important for proper nutrition. Maintaining an appropriate weight is also important - as weight decreases, the pressure placed on joints also decreases, You can find multiple studies on the impact of weight loss on osteoarthritis in humans on Google Scholar.

𝟕. 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡
One of my clients’ biggest concerns when I talk to them about their senior dogs is their mental health. They often feel guilt because their dogs can’t accompany them to certain areas of the house, or go on car rides, or enjoy long walks. Household adaptations resolve some of those concerns, but what else can be done?

I encourage my clients to incorporate sensory walks instead of always going on purposeful/destination walks. If they have the ability to put their dog in the car and drive to the destination, I encourage that approach instead of walking to the destination since it will preserve energy. Otherwise I ask them to choose a park or trail close to home. On these sensory walks, the sole goal is to enjoy your time with your dog. Use a long line if possible, and allow your dog to walk at the speed they want, sniff what they to sniff, and rest when they want to rest.

A piece of equipment that can be helpful for transporting dogs to various locations is a pet trailer. These trailers can be attached to a bike, or pushed while walking or jogging. It’s a great way of allowing your dog to spend time with you, see the outside world, and get them to a destination where you will both enjoy walking.

Look for classes in your area that cater to senior dogs. Locally, Pawsitively Social offers a class specifically designed for seniors called “Senior Moments”. If you can’t find a class offered for seniors, contact the class organizer and ask if they have classes that would be ideal for your dog - options may include trick, nosework, or conditioning classes. This will allow you to continue to bond with your pet and stimulate them mentally, while working within their capabilities.

If you live in a household with multiple dogs, it can be easy to forget the seniors. Please don’t. Set aside time for them, even if that time consists of you petting them and telling them how much you love them, or laying beside them in the back yard. These seniors have given us their time, patience and adoration for years and years - now it’s time to pay it back.

𝟖. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬
Here are a few resources that clients have found to be incredibly helpful:

a) Canine Arthritis Management: https://www.facebook.com/CAMarthritis

b) Holly’s Army: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2161091580843717

c) Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/
**I’m including this here because there is so much information available - all you have to do is research.

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𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴'𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.

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A few interesting links to get you started on your research:
**This is just a starting point - there are many more excellent resources available.
https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/laser-therapy-for-treatment-of-joint-disease-in-dogs-and-cats/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3525174/
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0231306
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32598445/
https://journals.co.za/doi/abs/10.10520/EJC99151